Rohtko – a Play by Łukasz Twarkowski at The Barbican Theatre in London

Can a fake work of art move us as much as the original? Rohtko, a play by Łukasz Twarkowski, inspired by the work of Mark Rothko and one of the biggest scandals in the art world, explores the boundaries of authenticity, value, and emotion in contemporary culture. This spectacular production will be presented as part of the UK/Poland Season 2025 at The Barbican Theatre in London. Performances will take place from 2 to 5 October 2025. 

Mark Rothko, Forgery, and the Digital World – Łukasz Twarkowski’s Play in London 

One of the most expensive works of art in the world is a painting by Mark Rothko, a master of abstract compositions made up of blurred patches of colour. The work, No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red), was sold for a staggering €140 million. Another Rothko painting became the subject of one of the biggest scandals in the art world: in 2004, a couple purchased a work allegedly by him for $8.3 million, but years later it was revealed that it had been painted by a Chinese mathematics teacher from Queens, who also forged works by Jackson Pollock. 

Both of these events became the inspiration for Łukasz Twarkowski’s performance, which, drawing on Rothko’s work and created with a team of actors from Latvia, Poland, and China, raises questions about authenticity and the state of the contemporary art world. What actually determines the astronomical value of certain works of art? How important is the authenticity of a work created by an artist? Can a fake painting evoke genuine emotions? What is real art? And, perhaps most importantly, does the way we experience live theatre in the real world shield it from accusations of inauthenticity? 

ROHTKO and ROTHKO – Can Fake Art Be Authentic? 

The creative exploration of these questions begins with the very title of the performance. The artist’s name, ROTHKO, has been altered to ROHTKO, reflecting the relationship between the original and the imitation, much as well-known brands are sometimes playfully imitated as Adibas or Dolce & Banana. At the same time, the title alludes to Graham Rawlinson’s typoglycemia hypothesis, which suggests that the human brain can recognise a word if its first and last letters remain in place. 

Łukasz Twarkowski’s team has created a production that examines the creation of art in a digital environment and the use of blockchain technology. The main theme of Rohtko is the relationship between the original and the copy, and the re-evaluation of this relationship in the virtual world. The creators combine theatre, new technologies, and live cinema, giving the performance the form of a spectacle enhanced by pulsating techno music, giant screens, and dynamic scenography. The October performances in London will also mark the UK premiere of the production. 

UK/Poland Season 2025 – Cultural Exchange Without Borders 

The presentation of “Rohtko” at The Barbican Theatre is part of the UK/Poland Season 2025 – a cultural programme of unprecedented scale, featuring dozens of events across multiple cities in Poland and the United Kingdom. Running until November 2025, the season marks a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, revitalising cultural dialogue and strengthening existing ties between the two countries. For residents of both countries, it offers a unique opportunity to explore the most exciting artistic phenomena from both sides – encompassing film, theatre, visual arts, design, and music. In Poland, the events are organised by the British Council, while in the UK – by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, and the British Council. The organisation of the Season in the UK and Northern Ireland is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Poland. 

This autumn, as part of the UK/Poland Season 2025, British audiences can enjoy a diverse programme of performing arts and theatre events, showcasing the social and political engagement as well as the experimental forms of contemporary Polish theatre. In September, during the Theatre is Freedom Festival, six Polish theatre companies presented their original productions. October at The Place opened with Every Minute Motherland, a dance performance by Maciej Kuźmiński, which, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the refugee crisis, explored the effects of trauma, exile, and alienation through choreography based on the dancers’ personal stories. Joint theatre and performance projects create a space for dialogue across the borders between Poland and the United Kingdom. 

“Rohtko” performance in London, United Kingdom